I saw this polish gem (no pun intended) at the World Film Fest in Montreal - Sept. 2005. Having read a short description about a week earlier, I was almost completely unaware of the subject/plot. Anyway, to sum it up: A comatose young man is hospitalized, and a sorrowful nurse decides to take him home after he regains consciousness. He seems completely oblivious to his past and present, acting sort of like a scared, wide-eyed bird, or a puppet. The story takes place in a medium-sized polish town, with an assortment of characters: from a nosy priest to a simple-minded drunk. Albert (his self-chosen name) soon meets the beautiful, friendly neighbor Monika, whose boyfriend, the son of Albert's caretaker, died tragically some years before. Quite unexpectedly, Monica develops romantic feelings for Albert, which help him develop as a man and a human. The movie brings to mind some American classics - mostly 'Rainman', as the semi-autistic Albert has an ability to crunch numbers like a computer. The reason for the title - SPAM - comes from the director's association of Albert's persona and destiny to those unwanted, quickly trashed e-mails. Unfortunately for Albert, the soul-ripping aspect comes from the 'Midnight Cowboy' elements of the story. There is a dark secret in the community, and Albert's apparent telepathic abilities, which evolve as he gets better, turn everyone, except Monika, against him. Paradoxically, when he finally recovers, his supernatural abilities and otherworldly aura spell his doom from the townsfolk. It is an accurate portrayal of the often phobic, cynical and downright boorish, blue collar poles. The church only deepens here their moral hypocrisy. Interestingly, a parallel is made here between Albert's rejection and suffering and that of Jesus. Simple red-neck people everywhere have a nasty tendency to destroy the ones who stand out too much.
I was deeply moved and transformed by this film. It may feel slow at times, but eventually it made a strong imprint on me, a soul and heart opening kind.
I was deeply moved and transformed by this film. It may feel slow at times, but eventually it made a strong imprint on me, a soul and heart opening kind.
